Billerica gun suspect arrested after high-speed chase

LOWELL -- A 34-year-old Billerica man was ordered held on $200,000 cash bail after he and his girlfriend were charged by Billerica police with firearms possession that allegedly stem from a federal probe into the sale and purchase of illegal firearm components by a Swedish national.

In Lowell District Court Wednesday, Morgan Kipper, 34, of 61 Wyman Road, pleaded not guilty to charges of career armed criminal, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession of a silencer, carrying a firearm without a license, marked-lanes violation, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and failure to stop for police. He is scheduled for a probable-cause hearing March 21.

Police say Kipper's record has 53 entries, including convictions for firearms charges related to carrying a firearm while intoxicated without a license, possession of a firearm without a license, armed robbery with a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon -- a firearm, and several other violent crimes, according to court documents.

His girlfriend, Elaine Healy, 34, also of 61 Wyman Road, is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition without an FID card and possession of a silencer. She was ordered held on $7,500 cash bail. Her next court date is March 21 for a pretrial conference.

According to court documents, Billerica police were contacted on Feb.

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21 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and told that Kipper was suspected of purchasing illegal-firearms parts or components capable of modifying a Glock pistol from semi-automatic to fully automatic. Fully-automatic weapons are highly regulated by state and federal law and are illegal to possess without a specially-issued permit, according to police.

The focus on Kipper stems from a federal investigation originating with the ATF- New Orleans Field Division dating from 2010 and 2011. That investigation dealt with the illegal importing of firearms components from a Swedish national, according to court documents.

When the packages were opened, investigators found the package from China contained numerous pieces of machined tubing and other machine-threaded parts ATF agents recognized as components of a firearms silencer. The other packages contained additional pieces of metal tubing, a sprocket and a drill bit. Investigators seized the contents of all four packages.

On Tuesday, police received the "no-knock'' warrant due to the firearms suspected in the home.

With a warrant, investigators decided that postal agents would make a "controlled delivery'' of the international packages. But when no one answered the door, the packages were left at the door.

Three minutes after the postal agent left, investigators say they saw the garage door open and the Porsche exit at a high rate of speed. Kipper was allegedly behind the wheel, while Healy allegedly opened the front door and brought the packages inside.

Police followed the Porsche, but once they hit their lights and sirens, the Porsche began to hit speeds of 80 mph to 100 mph, crossing over the town line into Burlington, passing cars and failing to stop at traffic lights. Due to the high volume of traffic, police ended the pursuit but continued to receive calls from other drivers warning of a Porsche on Winn Street entering 128 North. Area departments were notified.

In the garage at the 61 Wyman Road home, police found a camouflage duffel bag that contained a black H&K .45-caliber firearm with a silencer attached, ammunition and an Intraech Tech .22-caliber firearm with a flash suppressor, a SWD Inc. firearm with a silencer and a high-capacity magazine, according to court documents.

Police also found materials to make silencers, military zip-tie handcuffs, two diagrams on how to build a silencer, a silencer, and more ammunition, according to court documents. All the weapons will be processed for DNA and fingerprints, and test-fired for certification as a working firearm.

Police also seized a computer that they allege may contain evidence of he purchase, sale, transfer or possession or firearms components over the Internet, documents state. Near the computer were two gun-enthusiast magazines along with firearms magazines.

Kipper agreed to turn himself in to police at 2:20 a.m. Wednesday. Police found him sitting on the front stoop of his Wyman Road home. He was arrested without incident.

In 2007, Kipper's criminal exploits were detailed in the Wall Street Journal, and focused on a 2006 arrest Kipper faced for allegedly running a car "chop shop" in New Hampshire.

The story was about criminals who were convicted, in part, because they had pictures stored on their cellphones of themselves committing crimes.

Kipper allegedly had pictures of himself behind the wheel of a stolen car when he was arrested, the paper reported. The Journal story included a sketch of Kipper's mugshot.

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